The participation of informal caregivers in the café of patients with psychotic symptoms in coordination with self-help groups have been found to reduce the expressed emotion in combination with psychoeducations interventions help create a supportive environment.

This study investigates the differences in the family atmosphere of informal caregivers of patients with psychotic symptoms.

To compare whether or not the participation of informal caregivers of patients with psychotic symptoms in self-organized associations helps to foster a supportive family environment, hence reducing the risk of relapse.

Snowballing sampling consisting of 510 informal caregivers of patients with psychotic symptoms was used in the current study. The Family Environment Scale of Moos and Moos and socio-demographic questions were implemented to collect the data. Control Cronbach's Alpha reliability of scale gave value a = 0.795.

The comparison showed that informal caregivers of patients with psychotic symptoms irrespective of their participation or not in self-help associations do not show significant differences in Family Environment Scale. Significant statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05) only occurred in the subcategory “organization”, as the first group (m = 4.68, df = ± 2.233) were found to have lower values compared to the other group (m = 5.21, df = ± 2.233).

The study demonstrated that informal caregivers of patients with psychotic symptoms involved in self-help groups do not show to have a particular difference in the family atmosphere than families who do not participate in self-help associations.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.